Pin-setting machine for bowling alleys



Aug. 31,1926'.

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E. HEDENsKooG PIN sufran MACHINE Fon BOWLING ALLEYs 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 23. 1924.

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1.2397597211Y PATENr` orlflcr..

" EnNnsr rIEnENsxooe, or MUsxneoN, MICHIGAN, AssIGNon TonnUNswIcx-BA'LXE- eoLLnNnnn coNIPANY, or cnrcaeo, ILLINOIS, .A conromTIoN or nnmwm.

. YLI IN..-,E T TING, mcnINEron'nowLINe ,eLLnYa Appncauon meqnprn 23, 1924.- serial'No', 708,442.

The invention relates to pin-settin machines for bowling valleys and whic are adapted' to place the pins in the desired playing arrangement upon thebowling alley beds.

The pin setting machines in. use prior to my invention have :usuallybeen provided'.

with parts of relatively frail construction extending below the body of the setter l frame in position to bev damaged -by ins flying up therea'gain'st -in play upon the-a ley and also by the inadvertent lowerin ofthe frame when a ball is approaching t e alley Pit 'I 1.* i5 YA principal object of my invention is the provision of a pin settingmachine of improved action and which will be devoid of parts readily damaged by -play upon the alley or in manipulation of the setter vframe in .connection with such play.

Another obj ectof my invention is the provision of a machine'that will be silent in its action.4 v'

An importantobje'ct of the 'present inveii tion is to provide a pin-setting machine having pin-engagin portions designed Vto en-v gage ,the pin bo ies above andbelowther portions ofgreatest diameter, i. e. at points where practically no wear occurs, and to.

thereafter accurately position vthe same 'upon the spots' of alley be s.

A further object of the' invention -is to provide 1a pin-setting machine having pinreceiving pockets of such construction, that accidental falling of the pins to the alley bed,- prior to 'their being positionedon the spots is lei'ectually prevented.

vide a machine of the character descri ed, which v"may be conveniently and rapidly operatedby a single attendant and which is entirely automatic in its operation of positioningthe pins upon the spots after the ets,o'f the apparatus.v Y A further object of the invention is to pro'- vide a'pin-setting machine which willoperate to replace upon thespots, pins which have been knocked down' without interfering with, vor necessitating .the removal of pins which have been left standing upon the spots from a prior pin- .setting operation'.v

A further object of the invention is to providea pin-setting machine which is so' pinsliave been placed inthe receiving pockdesigned as to accurately position upon'the spots, pinswhich have been left standing from a prior operation, and Jwhich have been accidentally moved slightly o f the spots and out of proper alinement, said rec positioning operation takingplace coincident with the replacement Vof pins which placed in .the proper of the apparatus.

,AV furt er object ofthe invention-is to provide a pin-settingmacliine adapted to pin-receiving 'pockets readily installed in'a. standard bowling alley, parts of which are of sturdyconstruc tion and comprise a number of relatively movable' members.

Numerous otherv objects and advantages of descripembodiment thereof.

On the drawings,

have beenl knocked 7 down and thereafter j Figure 1 V's a frontjelevation of Ya pinesettin machineconsttuting a referred einbodimentef the invention van Yshowing the same in itsfassembled arrangement on a."

vstandard bowling-alley; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the and positioning frame;

pinereceiving Fig. 3 ,ism-'enlarged longitudinal ma! cal sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, i1- lustrating a subsequent position of the pinengagng and Positioning rings;

the pins upon the alley bed;

of "g. showing the frame and mechanism Fig. 4 isa similar view showing the po-A -sition of the frame and the mechanism car-V ried thereby, inits operation of positioning Afurtherobject of the invention is to ro- 1 Fig. 6 is adetail view of the operating shaft; Y

Fig. manner of engaging the pins above and besalie are being .positioned upon thevspots; an Y y f Fig. 8 is-a side view showing the device -in uppermost or normal positioni'after setting, and in position to receive the pins.

- Referring to the drawmsjhe apparatus is illustrated as being is a. perspective view illustrating the Y vlow theportion of eatest diameter asY the 1n V coniunction with a bowling alley having the usual bed 1, gutters 2, and side walls or partitions 3. The manner of supporting the pin-receiving and positioning frame forms no part of the present invention and may be of any usual or preferred arrangement. As illustrated, a pair of upright posts or standards 4 are secured as at 5 to the partitions 3 and are connected by a transverse brace or rod 6. The ceiling is shown at 7 and suitably secured thereto are a pair of depending tubular rods or members 8 and .9 which are secured at their lower ends by means of suitable brackets 10 and 11 to the transverse member 6.

The pin receiving and positioning frame is indicated as an entirety at l5 and as shown in Fig. 2 is substantially triangular in shape to conform to the arrangement of the spots on the bowling. alley bed. The frame is supported for vertical reciprocatory movement above the alley bed by means of vertical rods 1'6 and 17, slidably contained Within the tubular members 8 and 9 and secured at their lower ends as at 18 and 19, to the frame. A pair of cushioning springs are disposed on the reciprocating rods 16 and 17, and between the lower ends of the tubular members 8 and 9 and the frame, and the purpose of which is to cushion the frame atthe conclusion of the upward movement of the rods 16 and 17 Within the tubular members 8 and 9.

The frame is supported for vertical movement at its front and by means of a preferably rigid member or link 20, removably connected at its lower end with a link 21, fixed to al horizontal sleeve member 22, bolted or otherwise secured to the frame 15. The upper end of the rod 20 is connected to a sprocket chain 23 which passes over a pulley hung from the ceiling 7 and passing therefrom to and around a winding drum 25 disposed substantially centrally of a transverse shaft 26 journaled at each end in suitable hangers 27 and 28 secured to the ceiling 7.

A counterweight 29 is suitabliy guided for vertical movement by means of guide rods 30 and 31 extending upwardly from the brackets 10 and 11, and which guides suitably engage the pair of extensions 32 and 33 secured to the counterweight at each' end thereof. A pair of vertically disposed rods or attaching members 34 and 35, similar t0 the rod 20, are removably secured at their lower ends to either side of the rear portions of the frame 15 and are connected at their upper ends to a'pair of chains or cables 36 and 37. The latter are carri-ed over sprocket wheels 38 and 39 fixed on theshaft 26 adjacent th'e hangers 27 and 28, and the opposite ends of the chains 36 and 37 secured as atv38 to the counterweight 29. A rope or cable 40 is securedl at one end, as at 40, to substantially the center portion of theA counterweight,passes over a pair of pulleys carried in brackets 41 attached to the ceiling 7, ggd terminates at its other end in a handle The counterweight 29 is of a size suiiicient to overbalance the weight of the frame l5 and a set of pins contained therewithin. Vhen it is desired to lower the frame 15 to posltion the pins upon the alley bed in a manner hereinafter described, the o erator pulls downwardly on the handle 42 t ereby raisingthe weight 29 on its guides 30 and 3l, and the relief of this weight 29 allows the frame 15, containing the pins to be spotted,to descend by gravity, being guided in this action by the tubular members 8 and 9 and the chain 23 pays out and downwardly from the drum 13. As soon as the' pins have been positioned on the alley bed the attendant releases the handle 42 and the resulting downward movement of the Weight 29 raises the empty frame 15 to the position illustrated in Fig. 1.

The apparatus above described for raising and loweringpthe frame l5" is .of usual or standard construction. Asl the same forms no part of the present invention it has not been illustrated inA detail and has been described only to an extent necessary to illustrate the manner of raising and lowering the frame 15.

The vertically movable pin setter frame is of skeleton construction, having lower outer side bars 45 and lower end bar 46 of angle iron construction, upper sideand end bars 47 and cross members 48 and 49. The frame is fabricated of these structural parts into a lower triangular frame part and an upper triangular frame part, the two parts being held permanently into desired vertically spaced relation by upright members 51, which may be bolts, rivets or the like. A series of pin-receiving pockets are arranged in the frame in accordance with the spots of the alley bed. vThe bottom of the pins received in the frame. rest on pin-bottom seats 52'carried by appropriate cross-members 48. These pin-bottom seats consist of i'lat metal sheets curved slightly as shown in Figure 5 andprovided with cushions 53 upon their upper faces. When the p1ns are received by the pin-setter frame, which "occurs when the frame is in its upper position the heads of the pins rest upon the lower end of pin slides or chutes 54 ext-ending above the upper `frame part and inclined downwardly from the rear ofthe frame toward the players end.

The pin slides are of sheet metal curved transversely to direct the pms into the received position'as shown la1n Fig.- 5 above mentioned.

A't each in-receiving position or pocket two pivoted) ring `members A56 and 57 are pivoted together at 58 and at the same point itil;

'Y intermediate, r'ameniembers 47 fiat the top of the frame. These ring-members ar- `range the pins for spotting on the alley bed vich and then place them accurately in position,- all as will be presently described. The ins for conjoint' movement and the same is true of lthe rings 57 and the-two sets of rings move oppositefy in the setting action .of

the pin-setter. e.

`A shaft61 vis mounted-to rockE inthe top frame parts 47 at the rear of the machine. This'shaft has a number fof `bell `cranks upon it fixed to rock with the shaft, these bell cranks being indicated' by 62. Thel bell cranks 4are arranged between y in positions,-

' viewed lengthwise of the al ey, and theA i .an

vis provided with a downwardly upper arm of each is connected by a link 63 with a bar 64, passing alongside aset of ring members 56 and p ivoted-thereto above their pivots in the frame.- The other or downwardly extending arm 4oit the bell Ycrank is connected to -aebar 65 arranged alongside the setof rings 57, each 'of'which extending arm 66 to pivotally engage ,with the bar .65 belowthe pivotal connection' of the ring l members in the frame. The ring members are swung to the position 'shown in Fig.` 5 to receive the/pin when the frame arrives at upper or pinreceiving position bya fixed cam 67 arrangedto extend down romthe crosssbar 6. This cam is engaged by a roller 68 'carried on a plate 69 `inxturn pivoted on an appropriate ring axis and pivoted also conjointly'with the pivotal connection of. a

bar 65 and lan arm 66 of'a ring 57. A spring 60 issecured to a link or bar 64 so that it tends to move the parts into position to dis ose the up er arm of the lever62 in horizontal position.- When the roller 6 8t engages the cam 67 the rings and partsconnected to vthemare swung to the position shown in Fig. `5 extending the spring 60.l

In this action the upper arm of the Amember 62 1s moved in a clockwise direction. When the pin setter frame descends 'with a set of pins the roller 68 passes down-'around the cam '67 and a depending foot 70, fixed .Just

beneath the cam, engages the. roller 68' and' positively insures the assumption of the nor-1 mal position shown in Fig. 3. -lln'tlii's-posi--.l tion it will be noted that the'rings it-such pockets as may beunoccupied byj"pins as-A sume a position permittin a pin standing on-.the alle after the previous play to pass 'through t e setter frame as the frame reaches the alley bed.

Slightlyfprior to this point, which 'rhaheads f the aus are siighiiyiiaed as the result of this ring position under the action ofthe spring 60. Y

When the center frame reachesthe Aalley lbed the ring members right the pins-and bring them into accurate position upon the spots* ,This is accomplished -by 'sw-inging fas shownv in Fig. 4.

A lever 71, having a .cushion `foot 72,' is

'the ring members toward vertical position,

' pivoted at 73 in the lower frame and is'eonnected; by a link 74 to an farm 75' 'fixed on the shaft 61. As thel frame nears" thealley A the foot 7 2 first engages it and thelever 71 is moved in a clockwise direction a ainst the action of the spring 60,- viewing 4lgs. 3

and 4, withthe readily apparent resultant movement of the ring.'` members through J their connectionsto the shaft 61. Thisactioncauses the ring members 57 to first lift the heads of the pins and. thenV to engagel the bottoms thereofand swing them in a counter-clockwise direction to vertical posi-4 tion.

The engagement of the foot 72 with the alley bed causes the upper arm of the lever 75 to be swung down ina-counter-clockwise direction from its normal position, i.'e. tli`e` position that is yheld by the spring 60. It

- will be noted that the movement of theV lever 71 in moving therings isvery ,much lessA than the movement of the rings themselves.

`Wlienfthe frame starts upwardly the immediately swing away from the'pins underfthe actionof the.

' readilyl understood.

In the setting operation the' movement of the ring members accurately centers the -entire set of pins uponthe spots, sliding the Abottoms of the pins carried by it oithe pinspring 66, as will be-y loo bottom seats and along the alley bed into position and moving sidewise or lengthwise- ,previous'playmay have been-displaced.

are protected against deformation by thel er-Z, so that their engagement for accurate positioning results in perfect registration.4 "Therin surfaces engaging the pin portion are pre erably of larger diameterthan the diameters of the pins at the points. of en'- `gagement, the registration being eiected by the rolling of smaller circles Within larger ectiv'e setting action can be obtained by having the rings formed' Aaccurately fitthe pins.

Thepin-setter embodyiiigmy present in- 'I vof the 'alley any. standing` pins which in the" shape of the pins, as will be'readily appar- @me It will, however, be manifest that ef:

ies

vention is of silent action`l and' to further produce this result I' provide. cushions '76 v vu iponthe bottom of the frame'to engage the ,It will' be noted that the ring Vmembers, ,11.10

.engage the" pins above and below their cen-1 4'ters and on opposite ends of the enlarged centralparts These points ofengagement alley bed at the end of the setting movement.

It Will be readily manifest that a pinsetter embodying my present invention may be installed at a bowling alley of standard construction without alteration of the alley parts and by merely arranging the parts of.

the pin-setter in position as hereinbefore described.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from t-he foregoing without further description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made lin the form, construction and arrangement of the parts Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

l. A pin setting machine for bowling alleys, comprising a frame mounted for vertical movement to and from the alley bed, means in said frame for receiving pins and for accurately arranging them upon the spots of the alley bed, said means moving the pins into accurateposition by engagement on opposite sides of the pins both above and below the points of largest pin diameter.

2. A pin setting machine for bowling alleys, comprising a frame mounted for vertical movement to and from the alley bed,

' and pin positioning means carried thereby,

said pin positioning mea'ns comprising a pair of 4conjointly movable members engaging the pins above and below the center.

3. A pin setting machine for bowling alleys, comprising a frame mounted for vertical movement to and from the alley bed,

combined pin depositing r and positioning members carried bythe frame, said means being pivoted in the frame and embracing the pins, and operating mechanism for said members actuated byI engagement with the alley bed upon descent of the frame.'

4. A pin setting machine for bowling alleys, comprising a, frame mounted'for vertical movement to and from the yalley bed, and pin-setting members carried by said frame, said pin-setting members engaging the pins during the setting operation at the front and at the back and both above. and below lthe portions of largest diameter of thepins. i .e

5. A pinsetting'machme forhowling alleys, comprising a frame movable toward I' and from the alley bed, bottom rests carried by the frame, slides for receiving the pins and directing the bottoms thereof onto said bottom rests, and means for depositing the pins on the alley bed. .g

6. A pin-setting machine for bowling alleys, comprising a frame movabletoward and from the alley bed, pin supporting members in said frame and pin positioning members carried thereby, said pin position- .ing members having three positions, one 'permitting reception .of the pins, a second permitting passage of a pin onto the alley bed, and a third embracing the pins in accurate registration on the spots of the alleyv members in said frame and pin positionin= members carried thereby, said pin positioning members having three positions, one located at the top of the movement, one at the bottom of the movement, and one intermediate, the arrangement of said members at the top and bottom being obtained by movement ofthe parts against a spring holding said parts in a said position.

8. A pin-setting machine for bowling alleys, comprising a frame mounted for vertical movement above the alley bed, said frame having receiving pockets for pinsto be positioned, means carried by saidframe for grasping the pinsvbodily and automatically positioning th'e pins upon the alley bed, said pin positioning means being actuated by the contact of a part of said frame with the alley bed.

9. A pin-setting machine for bowling alleys, comprisin a frame mounted for vertical movement a ove an alley bed and having .pin receiving'pockets therein, means actu- 100 having pockets therein for receiving pins v to be positioned, and setting means carried by said frame for engaging said pins bodily at points remote from the greatest diameter of their body portions, said pin-engaging means being further adapted to position 115l said pins on said alley bed.

11. A pin-setting machine for bowling alleys, comprising a 4frame suspended for vertical movement above the alley bed and having pockets for receiving pins to be positioned, means carried by said `frame for engaging said pins above and below the greatest diameter of their body portions, and automatic means for actuating said pinengaging means to position said pins upon 125 the` alley, said pin-engaging means being further adapted to engage and reposition thefpins left' standing on the alley bed.

12.'A pin-setting machine for "bowling a1- leys, comprising a frame suspended for vererating ring members carried by sai frame for engaging the pins to 'be positioned during downward movement of the frame, and

' means actuatedby said alley bed for automatically positioning the engaged-*pins on the alley bed during Acoiitinxie'd ldownward movement of said frame, said -ring members j being urther'adapted to-release said positioned pins .during .upward movement of said frame. J 13. A frame for receiving'pins and posi'- -tioriing the same on a bowling alley, comprisinga 'plurality of pin-receiving pockets,

pin-setting means pivotally mounted on said frame in each pocket, and means vcarried by Vtioning the same on -bow said frame-and actuated -by vthe alley bed for aetuatin'gsaid ,pin-'setting means to set and position said pinsl upon the alley bed.

14. A frame for receiving pins and'posiltioning the same on a bowling alley, comprising a plurality of pin-receiving pockets, cooperating ring members mounted on said frame, and means carrie by said frame-and actuated by said alley bed for swinging said. pin-engaging rings on their pivots to enga e said plus and position the same upon t e alley ed said pin-engaging rings being-.Eurther adapted to encircle the pins left standing on the alley and reposition the same.

16. A frame4 for receivin pins and positioniiig thetsame on a bow ing alley, comprising a plurality of pin-receiving pockets, pin-engaging and positioning means mouiited on said frame, means for normallyholding said iii-engaging meansout of engagerment wit said ping-and means carried by v said frame for actuating said pin-engaging means to engage the pins and ositio'n the same upon the alle bed, said lio ding meansv being automatica y actuated to disen age said pin-engaging means after the'v pins ave been positioned., j

' 17. A ramej for receiving pins andl posi- `tioning the same ona. bowling alley, comprising a plurality plurality'o pm-e aging rings mounted on said frame, means or normally holding said lthe pinsin'inclined positiii, and means for `members-being norma bers including a pair for eac of pin-receiving pockets, a

pin-engaging means out of engagement with said pins, andmeans carried by said. frame and actuated by the alley bed for actuating said pin-engaging meansto engagethe pins and yposition the saine upon the alley bed,

when the frame is lowered, said holding means carried by the frame and comprising a pair of interenfraged ring members adapted to receiveeac pinin inclined position, Aand means 'for operating said ring Vmembers totupright the pins and..set them upon the alley bed.

19. A pin setting machine for bowling alleys com rising a frame. movable to and from the a ley. bed, a plurality of ring meni-v bers pivotally engaged in pairs one within the other, one pair for each pin, means 'for I holding saidring members open to receive,

swinging the ring members on their pivots to. upright the-pins and ,set them on the i alley bed. v

` 20. A pinsetting machine for bowlin alleys comprising a frame movable to an from the alley bed, a plurality "of ring meinbers pivotally engaged in pairs one within the other, one-pair f r (ily open to receivethe pins in inclined posi ion, andv means for swinging said ringmembers to upright` the pins, to rasp the pins, and to set the pins on the al e bed. l 21. A pin setting machine for bowling alleys coin rising a frame movable to and from the a ley bed, aplurality of ring mempinpivotally engaged one within the other tor each other and to the frame, said ring members being normally open to receive the pin'in inclined position, and means for operating sa1d ring members'tov upright the-'pins and to engage -the pins on `opposite sides adjacent the bottom, and at or about the neck, and to set each pin, said ring nasser mniinsnooe. I

DISCLAIMER `1,597,974.'-Emest Heden/shag, Meskegon, Mich. PIN-SE'rT-iNG MACHINE Fon ,"BoWLING ALLEYs. Patentgted August 31, 1926. Disclaimer filed October` 26, 19311, by the assignee, Bi'tguck-Balke C'ollemer Company.

Hereby enters this disclaimer to those claims in the speoication Whichare thefollowing Words, to-Wit:

A pin-settingmachine for bowling' alleys, comprising a frame movable toward and from the alley bed, bottom rests carried by the frame, slides for receiving the pins and directing thebottoms thereof onto said bottom rests, and means for depositing the pins on the alley bed.- f v a e A pin-setting machine for bowling alleys, comprising a frame suspended forvertical movement above the alley bed and havingpoekets therein for receiving pins to be v positioned, and setting means carried by said frame for engaging said pins bodily at points remote from thegreatest diameter of their bod portions, said pinengaging means being further adapted to position saidpins on sai A alley bed. f s

fA frame forreceiving pins and positioning the same on a bowling alley, comprising a pluralityfof ,pm-receiving pockets, iii-engaging' and positioning means mounted on 'said frame, means for normally ho ding said plu-engaging means o'ut of engagement with said pms, and means carried by said frame for actuating said pinengaging means to engagethe pins and position the same upon the' alley bed, said ho ding means belng automatically actuated to disengage said pin-engaging means after thzedpins have been-positioned- Gazette Novemlwr 17, 1.981.] 

